This is an audio track of “Miss Ogyny” by Parousia released on the 97 Rock Home Grown album, “Buffalo Rocks” and the story of how it came to be. On February 18th, at 9:00 am, Parousia was notified by Starstream Records that our song “Miss Ogyny” was chosen to be on the first 97 Rock “home-grown” album. This was a big deal for us to get airplay on WGRQ FM, a major AOR/classic rock radio station in Western NY.
The record label required that we submit a 24-track master tape of the song asap… problem being… we only had the four-track version that we recorded back in June at Randy Filippone’s studio. On February 19th at 3:00 am, Parousia re-recorded a 24-track version of Miss Ogyny at Select Sound. We made the deadline and our song made it onto the album, although it was a rushed last minute job so we didn’t really have a lot of opportunity to do much to it production-wise.
I still have my album – 2 copies actually, because Mary still has the one that was given to her by her friend, 97 Rock DJ Carl Russo, long before we met. Small world, huh? The 97 Rock album was our first and only vinyl recording of Parousia. Unfortunately, I don’t have a turntable so I don’t even recall what that version of the song sounded like. I’ll have to find somewhere to digitize it so I can post it here – unless it sucks, in which case I’ll post a better version 🙂
Starstream Records was the record label for Starstream Communications Group, Inc., a Houston, Texas based radio Promotions Company (1980–1990). Alumni of Starstream albums include Bon Jovi (WAPP), Twisted Sister (WAPP), Jon Butcher (WCOZ) and The Replacements (KQDS).
In the early 80’s, members of the popular local Western New York cover bands Cock Robin (Bill Shaver & Dave Bienik) and Weekend (Ned Wood) formed a new band called Dear Daddy. The band recorded and performed only original material. In addition to headlining at local venues, Dear Daddy opened concerts for Eddie Money, Rick Danko (of The Band) and The Kinks. The song “We’ll Be On Our Way” was written by Ned Wood and Bill Shaver and was included on the first Buffalo Rocks album in 1981.
The Parousia Track “Miss Ogyny” appeared on a Web site that lists “Punk Bands in Western NY” called CollectorScum (they actually mention a lot of bands I forgot all about, check it out). See their listing of songs from the 97 Rock album below: They say Parousia was “allegedly punk”…
I can see how we created that impression. When Kim and I wrote that song, it was heavily influenced by “new wave” acts like The B-52s, The Talking Heads, U2, The Cars and Blondie. Yes, those were not mainstream artists at the time. Also, with songs like “I Like People,” and considering we played the “punk” circuit and some of us hung out in the punk/new wave scene quite a bit, and considering we didn’t really have any boundaries to our musical identity at that time, it wouldn’t be hard for some people to think of Parousia as somewhat punk… until we break into Perpetual Change, Squonk or Free Bird, anyway.
I’m told Barry has a good story about hearing Miss Ogyny on the radio for the first time – – maybe if we ask real nice, he’ll share it with us!
Miss Ogyny_97 Rock ‘Buffalo Rocks’ Vol.1 1981
97 rock’s “Buffalo Rocks” album artists
Buffalo Rocks official album line-up notes
I remember when I got the exciting news that Parousia’s song “Miss Ogyny” was picked as a track on the first 97 Rock album. It was a Wednesday and I was working at “Tops Friendly Market” on Kenmore near Elmwood when Bob Lowden came in and tracked me down in the stock room. He pulled me outside and told me the fantastic news… and the fact that we had to re-record the song onto 24-track that same night!
While I was stuck at work Garth, Kim and Bob made the arrangements and booked studio time at nearby Select Sound which was just down the street from Tops. I told all of my co-workers at the supermarket about our track on the album and from that day forward, they all seemed to look at me a little bit differently… as if i perhaps, just for a moment, earned some new respect in their eyes. Well, not really… but it was nice to think so.
After work, I went straight over to Select Sound and waited for my drums to arrive. We started setting up at about 1:00 am and after sound check and a quick rehearsal, we recorded Miss Ogyny at about 2:00 am and finished mix down by 3 am. We were tired and excited… this track was an incredible opportunity for Parousia’s music to be played on one of the most popular Western N.Y. FM radio stations at the time, WGRQ a station that played ‘album oriented rock’ which was a perfect fit for Parousia.
I don’t remember how we paid for the 24-track recording at Select Sound… I do recall that it was very expensive to book an “emergency” recording session at one in the morning. After our song was pressed onto vinyl, it gave Parousia a nice boost in local popularity and more ‘street cred’. We went on to perform 64 more shows that same year.
More 97 Rock ‘Buffalo Rocks’ Album Trivia:
Along with Parousia, one of the bands that made it onto the 97 rock album was Cheater. Cheater was an excellent local cover band with some great original songs, “Ten Cent Love Affair” being one of them which appears on this album.
Before the band Cheater was formed, some of the members played in a Rochester based group called “Black Sheep” a 1970s rock band featuring Louie Grammatico (aka: Lou Gramm on Lead Vocals). Donnie Mancuso (Guitar), Larry “Rose” Crozier (Keys), Bruce Turgon (Bass) and Ronnie Rocco (Drums). The band was signed by Capitol Records and released the single “Stick Around” in 1974, then the self-titled album “Black Sheep” in 1975, and finally the album “Encouraging Words” in 1976. They were no longer performing as Black Sheep when Grammatico was invited by Mick Jones to join the band Foreigner. Grammatico was reportedly hesitant at first but joined Foreigner and later changed his name to Lou Gramm. Rumor has it that the reason Black Sheep stopped performing was due to the destruction of all their gear in an auto accident involving the band’s equipment truck. Mancuso and Rocco went on to play in Cheater with Jeff Cosco, while Gramm soared to the top of the charts with his new band Foreigner. Mancuso reunited with Gramm and still plays today with the Lou Gramm Band in addition to his own project “D Drive”.
I used to live in the Town of Tonawanda, and I remember driving down Niagara Falls Blvd. coming from section of the road near the Holiday Inn going towards the Boulevard Mall; I had my car radio tuned in to 97 ROCK at the time. All of a sudden the Radio DJ came on ( I can’t be sure of his exact name, but I think it was Bruce Barber) and said he now was going to play a new song by a band called Parousia; which was an original song (called Miss Ogyny) that they selected for their 97 Rock “Buffalo Rocks” Vol. 1 1981 homegrown album. I was so excited when I heard our song being played; that I nearly got into an accident with another car; however I quickly re-gained my composure and very happily drove on with a smile on my face that would put any very friendly hooker to shame. What else can I tell you. It was my real cheap thrill and “high” of a lifetime. Like the old pro wrestlers called “The Road Warriors/Legion of Doom” from the WWF used to say, Ahhhhh, what a rush! “Nuff said pilgrims!
Keep on ‘rockin!
Barrymannia
KROQ played a few of your songs too. I almost crashed my car when I heard you guys come on. That was later though… Probably Turnaround?
It probably was either “Turnaround” or the song “Place you Bets”. KROQ liked to play both.
Is there anyway i can get this on a cd?
Hey we were on that album….
Where can I get a copy of the 97 rock album